Troubleshooting common problems
If you are experiencing backing up or your tubs and sinks are slow to drain or bubbling:
- If your septic tank has not been pumped out recently, this is often an indicator that the system needs to be serviced.
- If the tank has recently been serviced but you are still experiencing this issue, it could indicate a clog in the piping or sewer line.
- To check this you can look into the first septic tank opening closest to the house to see if the liquid level is higher than the inlet baffle. If the liquid level is lower than the inlet baffle it is likely that there is a clog somewhere in the pipe between the house and the septic tank.
If high liquid level is causing backing up or overflow of sewage out of tank lids:
- A common cause of this problem is a clogged outlet filter. Many septic tanks have a filter installed in the outlet baffle that should be cleaned every 6 months. This can often become clogged and cause a back up if it is not maintained properly. Outlet filters protect the filter bed from solids and in-organic materials.
- Sometimes large volume discharges, such as, washing machines, dishwashers and bathtubs cause a backup or an overflow of sewage above the septic tank lids. If this usually happens during or directly following a heavy rain, then the septic system’s tile bed may be over-saturated.